Yale Fences to 2-2 Split at Brandeis Invitational

Andrew Holbrook.

Dec 01, 2007

Dec. 1, 2007

WALTHAM, Mass. -
The Bulldogs traveled to Waltham, Mass. for four dual meets at the Brandies Invitational, Saturday, and walked away with a 2-2 record. Yale's wins came against Boston College and MIT, while the Elis dropped matches to St. John's and host Brandeis. The event marks the beginning of the dual meet season.

Yale edged out Boston College in an exciting 14-13 match. It was the Bulldogs' talented foil squad, which returns sophomores John Gurrieri and Andrew Holbrook, that led the effort, finishing with a 7-2 record. The epeeists recorded a 5-4 record, while the saberists only claimed two of nine bouts.

In another closely contested Bulldog victory, a 15-12 win over MIT, Yale's foilists again proved too much, as they fenced to an 8-1 record. The Eli epee squad, led by junior Michael Pearce and senior captain Steve Miller, notched a 6-3 mark to put the match out of reach.

Perennially strong St. John's, however, proved too much for the Bulldogs, winning 17-10. This time the foilists were only able to take four of the nine bouts contested. The epee squad captured a 5-4 record.

Against Brandeis, the Bulldogs fell one bout short of victory, losing 14-13. The Bulldog foilists again proved tough: they took six of nine from the hosts. The epeeists went 4-5, while the sabre squad ended up 2-7.

The day's results matched those of a year ago, when Yale also recorded victories against Boston College and MIT, while losing to St. John's and Brandeis. It was the then-freshman-led foil team that led the way. A year later, the foilists notched one more victory overall then they did last year. The Bulldog foilists finished with a 25-11 record. The epeeists went 20-16, while the sabre squad ended up with a 7-29 record.